Hebrews Carnival December 2011

Ken Schenck offers a Targum of Hebrews 13:9-16.  He also gives a meditation on Hebrews 11 for the second Sunday of Advent, and an excerpt on Hebrews and the Temple.  Ken also give a preview of an article he wrote in which he argues that "Christ's death was an atonement for all the sins of the Jews in the past who ever lived and were in right relationship with God."

Scott McKnight is doing a series on how he changed his mind about Calvinism based on the warning passages in Hebrews. Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.  Derek Ouellette provides a summary of McKnight's argument.

Rod Decker offers an interpretation of the temporal reference in Hebrews 2:5.

David M. Allen does a guest book review on Chris Tilling's blog on David Moffitt's new book, Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

New Articles in Tyndale Bulletin & Restoration Quarterly

The most recent issue of the Tyndale Bulletin has a new article on Hebrews:

Andrew J. Wilson
Hebrews 3:6b and 3:14 Revisited
Hebrews 3:6b and 3:14 have been central to Reformed interpretations of the warnings in Hebrews for several centuries. Today, however, there is something of an impasse in scholarship: on one side, there are those who see these verses as an interpretive key to the letter, and thus understand the warnings to refer to spurious or false believers; on the other, there are those who argue that since Hebrews warns real believers away from real apostasy, these two verses cannot mean what, at a grammatical level, they appear to mean. In this paper, I appraise the scholarly discussion so far, identify three key issues relating to grammar and context, and then propose a way through the impasse that has not been considered in modern scholarship.

I should also draw attention to the new article by James Thompson in the Restoration Quarterly (see previous post).

2011 Articles on Hebrews

Here are the articles on Hebrews that have appeared in 2011:

Allen, David L. "The Authorship of Hebrews: Historical Survey of the Lukan Theory." Criswell Theological Review ns 8.2 (2011): 3-18.

Bénétreau, Samuel . "L'espérance chrétienne selon l'épître aux Hébreux : une spécificité?" Biblica 92 (2011): 97-111.

Beyer, Andrea, and Delia Klingler. "Ps 95 und die Ruhe in Hebr 3-4." Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 1-26.

Bott, Nicholas T. "'And by Faith, Because Abraham Considered Him Faithful Who Had Promised, Sarah Himself Received Power to Conceive': A Reconsideration of Heb 11:11.” Trinity Journal 32 NS (2011): 205–19.

Compton, Jared. "The Origin of sōma in Heb 10:5: Another Look at a Recent Proposal." Trinity Journal 32 (2011): 19-29.

Dewey, Joanna. "Sacrifice No More." Biblical Theology Bulletin 41 (2011): 68-75.

Dochhorn, Jan. "Eine Konjektur zu Hebr 3,16." Biblische Zeitschrift 55 (2011): 115-121.

Doré, Joseph. "Secundum ordinem Melchisedech : le sacerdoce du Christ en He 7,11-28." Revue des sciences religieuses 85 (2011): 1-26.

Ernst, Michael. "Eucharistie im Hebräerbrief?" Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 51-65. 

Esler, Philip F. “Judean Ethnic Identity and the Purpose of Hebrews.” Pages 469–89 in Method and Meaning: Essays on New Testament Interpretation in Honor of Harold W. Attridge. Edited by Andrew B. McGowan and Kent Harold Richards. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2011.

Gelardini, Gabriella. "Melchisedeks (Opfer-)Gabe: der Priesterkönig im Alten Testament, Frühjudentum und im Neuen Testament." Bibel und Kirche 66 (2011): 40-44.

Gelardini, Gabriella. “Rhetorical Criticism in Hebrews Scholarship: Avenues and Aporias.” Pages 213–36 in Method and Meaning: Essays on New Testament Interpretation in Honor of Harold W. Attridge. Edited by Andrew B. McGowan and Kent Harold Richards. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2011.

Gruber, Christian J. "Neues zur Einordnung von Hebr 13,20-21 hinsichtlich der Gattung und der Funktion." Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 67-79.

Hall, Robert G. "Pre-existence, Naming, and Investiture in the 'Similitudes of Enoch' and in Hebrews." Religion and Theology 18 (2011): 311–33.

Holsteen, Nathaniel D. "The Trinity in the Book of Hebrews." Bibliotheca sacra 168 (2011): 334-346.

Hoppin, Ruth. "Priscilla and Plausibility: Responding to Questions about Priscilla as Author of Hebrews." Priscilla Papers 25.2 (Spring 2011): 26-28.

Houwelingen, Rob van. “Riddles around the Letter to the Hebrews.” Fides Reformata 16.2 (2011): 151–62.

Levin, Christoph. "Lebenszeugnis für Christus : Predigt über Hebräer 13,5b-15 am 18. Januar 2010 in der Erlöserkirche in München-Schwabing im Gedenkgottesdienst für Erzbischof Prof. D. Georg Kretschmar." Lutherische Kirche in der Welt 58 (2011): 69-73.

Mackie, Scott D. "Ancient Jewish Mystical Motifs in Hebrews' Theology of Access and Entry Exhortations." New Testament Studies 58 (2011): 88-104.

Mackie, Scott D. "Heavenly Sanctuary Mysticism in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Journal of Theological Studies 62 (2011): 77-117.

Martin, Michael W., and Jason A. Whitlark. "The Encomiastic Topics of Syncrisis as the Key to the Structure and Argument of Hebrews." New Testament Studies 57 (2011): 415-439.

Oropeza, B. J. "The Warning Passages in Hebrews: Revised Theologies and New Methods of Interpretation." Currents in Biblical Research 10 (2011): 81–100.

Pester, John, "The Exhortation to Participate in the Fulfillment of the Eternal Will of God in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Affirmation & Critique 16.1 (2011): 33–48.

Pester, John. "The Scope, Content, Judgment, and Goal of the Gospel in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Affirmation & Critique 16.2 (Fall 2011): 49–65.

Richir, David. "Le repos du Roi : l'épître aux Hébreux à la lumière du royaume." Théologie évangélique 10 (2011): 133-157.

Spellman, Ched E. "When Hope Screams: Learning How to Suffer as Sons from the Book of Hebrews." Southwestern Journal of theology 53 (2011): 112-134.

Steigerwald, Gerhard. "Das Mosaik 'Die Begegnung Melchisedeks mit Abraham' im Langhaus von S. Maria Maggiore in Rom und sein zeitgeschichtliches Umfeld." Zeitschrift für antikes Christentum 15.3 (2011): 498–531.

Thompson, James W. "Insider Ethics for Outsiders: Ethics for Aliens in Hebrews." Restoration Quarterly 53 (2011): 207-19.

Thompson, James W. "The New Is Better: A Neglected Aspect of the Hermeneutics of Hebrews." Catholic Biblical Quarterly 73 (2011): 547-561.

Ueberschaer, Frank. "Mit gutem Glauben und vorbildlicher Weisheit : zwei Ahnentafeln im Vergleich (Sir 44f. und Hebr 11)." Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 27-50.

Wilson, Andrew J. "Hebrews 3:6B and 3:14 Revisited." Tyndale Bulletin 62.2 (2011): 247-67.

This listing was compiled with the help of a online search engine that I have recently discovered: The Index Theologicus of the University of Tübingen.

New Mackie Article on Hebrews

Scott Mackie informed me that he has a new article out on Hebrews:

Mackie, Scott D. "Ancient Jewish Mystical Motifs in Hebrews' Theology of Access and Entry Exhortations." New Testament Studies 58 (2011): 88-104.

Hebrews Carnival November 2011

William Varner proposes that Jude is the author of Hebrews.

Frederik Mulder spotlights David Moffitt's new dissertation on Hebrews, which argues that Jesus' resurrection is central to the author's argument, while Matthew Montonini draws attention to Gary Cockerill's forthcoming commentary in the NICNT series.  Although these authors take different perspectives on what is going on in Hebrews, both will be excellent works that should shape the discussion on Hebrews for years to come.

Ken Schenck reflects on the meaning of "resting from his works" in Hebrews 4:10.  Ken also notes that the author of Hebrews does use allegory, despite the fact that many scholars are adverse to this idea.  Ken also offers excerpts on Hebrews 13:9-14 and on the Date of Hebrews.

Peter Leithart offers a Eucharistic meditation on Hebrews 12:22-23.

New Hoppin Article on the Authorship of Hebrews

Ruth Hoppin has informed me that the following article has been published:

"Priscilla and Plausibility: Responding to Questions about Priscilla as
Author of Hebrews." Priscilla Papers 25.2 (Spring 2011): 26-28.

She says, "It deals in part with Heb. 11:32!"

Jordi Cevera Articles (Update)

Last year about this time I mentioned that I met Jordi Cevera, a professor with the Facultat de Teologia de Catalunya in Barcelona, at SBL.  I had discovered some of his articles online.  Jordi has just sent me a listing of all his articles on Hebrews.  I list here only those that are fully accessible online.  Some of his other articles are also available through such sites as Google Books, but these are only partial previews.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Una aliança millor, un poble millor?" Revista Catalana de Teologia 23.1 (2004): 19-33.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Ancient Targumic Tradition in Heb 8:2." Revista Catalana de Teologia 34.2 (2010), 509-523.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Hebreus, una exhortació a perseverar." Revista Catalana de Teologia 23.3 (1998): 299-328.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Jesús, gran sacerdot i víctima, a Hebreus. Una teologia judeocristiana de la mediació i de l’expiació." Revista Catalana de Teologia 34.2 (2009): 477-502. [Article is found here also]

Oropeza on the Warning Passages in Hebrews

A new article has appeared in Currents in Biblical Research:

B. J. Oropeza, "The Warning Passages in Hebrews: Revised Theologies and New Methods of Interpretation." Currents in Biblical Research 10 (2011): 81–100.

Abstract:

"The interpretation of the warning passages in Hebrews has long been disputed, especially 6.4-6. Discussions on the issue over the last several decades frequently remain in dialogue with the theologies of Calvinist-Reformed and Arminian traditions, and intrigue about the passages often centers on whether or not the recipients of the message are ‘genuine’ believers and able to abandon their salvation because of apostasy. Recent methods of interpretation have opened up new ways of looking at the warnings and bring them into sharper relief. Such methods include historical-critical, socio-rhetorical, social-scientific, intertextual, and oral-critical methods. This article addresses studies of the warnings in Hebrews relevant to such approaches, and it also surveys recent interpretations that integrate Calvinist or Arminian viewpoints."

New Dissertations Added

The following dissertations have been added:

Fernandes, Celso Eronides. “A liturgia de Hebreus: Uma análise de como as mudanças sociais influenciam as formas de culto.” M.A. thesis, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, 2006.

Jang, Jae Young. "Communicative Preaching: A Homiletical Study in the Light of Hebrews." Ph.D. diss., North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Jong, Adam de. “The Writer of Hebrews as a Reader of Hebrew: An Inquiry into the Linguistic and Hermeneutical Use of the Old Testament Quotations in the Epistle to the Hebrews.” M.Th. thesis, University of Glasgow, 2011.

Laughton, Lance Craig. “The Hermeneutic of the Author of Hebrews as Manifest in the Introductory Formulae and Its Implication for Modern Hermeneutics.” M.A. thesis, University of Pretoria, 2005.

Mvunabandi, Shadrack. “The Communicative Power of Blood Sacrifices: A Predominantly SouthAfrican Perspective with Special Reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews.” Ph.D. diss., University of Pretoria, 2008.

Nel, Pieter. “Die rol van Psalm 110 in Hebreërs.” M.A. thesis, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Van der Walt, Sarel Petrus. “‘Ons weet omdat ons glo!’: 'neksegeties-openbaringshistoriese studie vanuit Hebreërs 10:38-11:3 toegepas opdie problematiek van die verhouding tussen geloof en kennis.” Ph.D. diss., North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Hebrews Group at SBL Annual Meeting

I received the following announcement from Gabriella Gelardini today:

Dear participants of past Hebrews Group sessions

As the annual meeting is approaching quickly, we would like to warmly invite you to the two sessions that the Hebrews Group sponsors or co-sponsor this year (see the program in detail below). We are particularly proud about the triple-joint session, in which we aim to introduce new methodologies to Hebrews scholarship. Furthermore we were able to interest Daniel Boyarin to read Hebrews with us. And finally, we have scheduled a business meeting particularly designed to get into conversation with you about the future of the Hebrews Group at SBL. All papers and responses should be available through our website after the meeting (<http://www.hebrews.unibas.ch/Program2011.html>).

Hope to see you in San Francisco,
Gabriella Gelardini
Co-chair Hebrews Group, SBL AM

Hebrews at the SBL Annual Meeting

S19-302

---

African-American Biblical Hermeneutics
11/19/2011
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Room: Sierra J - Marriott Marquis

Jennifer T. Kaalund, Drew University
Neither Here Nor There: Black Migrant Workers and “Strangers and Foreigners” in Hebrews (20 min) 

S19-341

---

Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity
11/19/2011
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Sierra H - Marriott Marquis
Theme: Scripture in the Synoptic Gospels

Kevin B. McCruden, Gonzaga University
The Eloquent Blood of Abel: How Does Abel Speak in the Epistle to the Hebrews? (30 min) 

S20-119

---

Hebrews
Joint Session With: Hebrews, Space, Place, and Lived Experience in Antiquity, Sacrifice, Cult, and Atonement
11/20/2011
9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Room: Cyril Magnin II - Renaissance Parc 55
Theme: Simultaneous Cults: The Intersection of Sacred Space, Time, and Practice
Ellen Aitken, McGill University, Presiding

Jon Berquist, Disciples Seminary Foundation
Critical Spatiality and the Book of Hebrews (30 min)

Jorunn Økland, Universitetet i Oslo, Respondent (15 min)

Kathryn McClymond, Georgia State University
Space and Sacrifice in Leviticus: Implications for Sacrificial Theory (30 min)

Christian Eberhart, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, Respondent (15 min)

Gabriella Gelardini, Universität Basel, Respondent (15 min)

Discussion (30 min)
Business Meeting (15 min) 

S20-224a

---

Greek Bible
11/20/2011
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Walnut - Marriott MarquisTheme: Greek Bible and New Testament

Gert J. Steyn, University of Pretoria
Septuagint Torah Quotations Common to Philo of Alexandria and Luke-Acts (30 min) 

S21-315

---

Hebrews
11/21/2011
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: 3011 - Convention CenterCraig Koester, Luther Seminary, Presiding

Daniel Boyarin, University of California-Berkeley
The Stammbaum of MalkiZedek: The Christology of Hebrew in Jewish Context (25 min)

Susan Docherty, Newman University College Birmingham UK
Analysing the Interpretation of the Old Testament in Hebrews: Towards a New Methodology (25 min)

Harold Attridge, Yale University, Respondent (13 min)

Luke Timothy Johnson, Emory University
Suffering as Means of Moral Transformation: Hebrews in Philosophical Context (25 min)

Alan C. Mitchell, Georgetown University
The Death of Jesus in Hebrews: A Contribution to a Developing Tradition (25 min)

Ellen Aitken, McGill University, Respondent (13 min)

Discussion (24 min)

Hebrews at the ETS

The 2011 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society has the following sessions on Hebrews:

Thursday, November 17

8:30-11:40 am
Marriott – Nob Hill A & B
Hebrews, Letter to the

Moderator: Herbert W. Bateman IV
(Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)

8:30-9:10 am
Authorial Commentary Overviews
David L. Allen
(Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Review of Hebrews in the New American Commentary Series

Gareth Lee Cockerill
(Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS)
A New Volume on Hebrews in the NICNT—Distinct Emphasis and Contributions

9:20-10:00 am
Reviewer
Buist Fanning
(Dallas Theological Seminary)
Review of Two Recent Commentaries on Hebrews

10:10-10:50 am
Reviewer
Michael Allen
(Knox Theological Seminary)
Recent Commentaries on Hebrews: A Theological Reply

11:00-11:40 am
Responses
David L. Allen
(Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Gareth Lee Cockerill (Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS)
Panel and Audience Discussion

8:30-11:40 am
Marriott – Foothill D
Patristics and Medieval History
Eastern Patristics/Early Medieval

Moderator: Paul Hartog
(Faith Baptist Theological Seminary)

9:20-10:00 am
Ashish J. Naidu
(Talbot School of Theology, Biola University)
Assisting Grace or Transforming Grace? An Investigation of the Motifs of Grace in John Chrysostom‘s Exposition of Hebrews

Friday, November 18

Marriott – Yerba Buena 1
Hebrews, Letter to the

Moderator: Jon C. Laansma
(Wheaton College)

9:45-10:25 am
Thomas Keene
(Westminster Theological Seminary)
I’m Glad I Don’t Know: The Literary Function of Anonymous Authorship in the Epistle to the Hebrews

10:35-11:15 am
Benjamin J. Ribbens
(Wheaton College)
Conceptual Backgrounds and Sacrifice Theology in Hebrews

11:25 am-12:05 pm
Jacob Rosenberg
(Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)
The Sin of Esau as Anti-Type to the Character and Position of Jesus in Hebrews 12:16

12:15-12:55 pm
Barry Joslin
(Boyce College of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Whose Name? A Comparison of Hebrews 1 and Philippians 2 and Christ‘s Inheritance of the Name

George Guthrie Course on Hebrews

BiblicalTraining.org is now offering a course on Hebrews taught by George Guthrie.

Description of the course: "An exegetical study of Hebrews.  As Dr. Guthrie interacts with each verse, he explores not only the meaning of the text, but how we apply the theology of the text in our daily lives and ministries."

HT: Charles Savelle

Worship in the Book of Hebrews

I have just become aware of a new book out on Hebrews:

John Paul Heil. Worship in the Letter to the Hebrews. Cascade Books.

Blurb from the Wipf & Stock website:

"This book seeks a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the Letter to the Hebrews by examining it from the viewpoint of its prominent theme of worship. It aims to demonstrate the topic of worship in all of its rich and varied dimensions provides the major concern and thrust that embraces Hebrews from start to finish. The author of Hebrews encourages his audience to hold on to the letter he has written to them as "the word of the encouragement" (Heb 13:22). In a very carefully concerted and masterfully artistic way, the letter persistently encourages the members of its audience with regard to their worship. Indeed, Hebrews was intended to be presented orally in a public performance as a liturgical or homiletic letter, an act of worship in itself, heard by its audience gathered together as a worshiping assembly. Hebrews exhorts the members of its audience not only with regard to their liturgical worship in which they engage during their communal gatherings, but also with regard to their ethical or moral worship in which they engage by the way they conduct themselves outside of their communal gatherings. This close examination of Hebrews through the lens of worship is intended to inform and enrich the worship of Christians today. Hebrews presents important and unique points about worship not found in any other New Testament writing. The goal is to illustrate and illuminate these points for the benefit of those who desire to deepen their worship as Christians by deepening their understanding of the magnificent literary masterpiece that the poetically lively letter to the Hebrews articulates for all Christians."

Cockerill on Melchizedek

The following article is now available online:

Cockerill, Gareth Lee. "Melchizedek or 'King of Righteousness.'" Evangelical Quarterly 63.4 (1991): 305-12.

On a related note, I noticed today that Cockerill's commentary on Hebrews in the NICNT series now has an expected publication date of June 2012.

Hebrews Carnival October 2011

The biblioblog activity on the book of Hebrews for the month of October:

Kevin Brown explores When did Jesus become a Priest?

Dirk Jongkind discusses a variant of Hebrews 5:6 in P46.

Ken Schenck offers his Outline of Hebrews that will be a part of the study notes for the CEB Study Bible.

Daniel Streett explains that the Sabbath Rest in Hebrews is based upon the author's interpretation of the LXX text, and not the Hebrew.

Michael Bird Introduces the Book of Hebrews.

Hebrews Recited

Joey Shorey of Covenant Fellowship Church recites the entire book of Hebrews from memory.  A video like this reminds us that the original audience would have heard the book orally; they would not have read it.  This video gives us a sense of what it would been like to have heard it orally for the first time.

New Articles Added

The following articles have been added:

Anonymous. "A Lawyer Looks at Hebrews 9:15-17." Evangelical Quarterly 40.3 (1968): 151-56.

Legg, John D. "Our Brother Timothy: A Suggested Solution to the Problem of the Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews." Evangelical Quarterly 40.4 (1968): 220-223.

Rendall, Robert. "The Method of the Writer to the Hebrews in Using Old Testament Quotations." Evangelical Quarterly 27.4 (1955): 214-220.

Thurston, Robert W. "Philo and the Epistle to the Hebrews." Evangelical Quarterly 58.2 (1986): 133-43.

Trudinger, L. Paul. "The Gospel Meaning of the Secular: Reflections on Hebrews 10:10-13." Evangelical Quarterly, 54.4 (1982): 235-37.

Hebrews Dinner at SBL in San Francisco

Last year, after one of the sessions on Hebrews, we had an impromptu gathering of several Hebrews specialists who had a meal together.  This year Scott Mackie and I would like to be more intentional about organizing a dinner together with other Hebrews specialists.  Scott has told me that there is already some interest in having such a gathering.

We think the best time for the dinner would be right after the Monday session which meets from 4:00-6:30.

If you are going to be in San Francisco for the SBL meeting and would like to join us for dinner, please leave a comment.

". . . not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some . . ." (Hebrews 10:25)

Letters to the Churches

Apparently, Karen Jobes' new book, Letters to the Churches: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles (Zondervan) is now available.

Description from the Zondervan website:

"Respected New Testament scholar Karen Jobes explores the cultural and theological background of Hebrews and the general epistles (James through Jude) in this rich commentary. Writing from an evangelical perspective, Jobes addresses issues of historical relevance as well as how these ancient books connect with Christian faith and practice today. Letters to the Church includes: -Historical background for each book focusing on authorship, genre, date, and content -An exploration of the major themes in each book and detailed commentary on key passages -Boxes with chapter goals, outlines, challenges, and significant verses -Sidebars addressing difficult passages or ideas -Maps, photographs, charts, and definitions -Questions for discussion, reflection, and testing -A comparison of the teachings about Christ in each of the letters Pastors, professors, students, and laypeople interested in deeper biblical study will find this an invaluable resource that offers well-researched commentary in an accessible, spiritually meaningful form."

About the Author:

Karen H. Jobes is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College. She is the author of many articles and several books, including The NIV Application Commentary: Esther.

HT: Matthew Montonini

Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews

The Society of Biblical Literature has just announced the publication of a new resource on Hebrews.  I knew that this book was in the works but couldn't say anything about it.  The book has a line-up of leading Hebrews scholars:

Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Resource for Students. Edited by Eric Mason and Kevin McCruden.

From the SBL website: 

Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Resource for Students addresses major issues in the interpretation of this important but complex biblical text and provides an introduction to contemporary scholarship on Hebrews. With contributions from an international team of leading scholars on Hebrews and related fields, this volume reflects the most recent trends in the study of Hebrews and is designed for classroom use by students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. The various chapters emphasize the importance of interpreting Hebrews in light of its ancient Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman contexts and address major interpretive issues, including genre, conceptual backgrounds, Hebrews’ use of Scripture and biblical themes, the theology of the letter and major theological issues in its reception, emerging interpretive approaches, and the use of the book in the history of Christian thought and worship.

Eric F. Mason is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and chair of the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies at Judson University. He is the author of ‘You Are a Priest Forever’: Second Temple Jewish Messianism and the Priestly Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Brill).
Kevin B. McCruden is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University. He is the author of Solidarity Perfected: Beneficent Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews (de Gruyter).

CONTENTS

Introduction
— Eric F. Mason

Hebrews among Greeks and Romans
— Patrick Gray

What Has Middle Platonism to Do with Hebrews?
— James W. Thompson

Cosmology, Messianism, and Melchizedek: Apocalyptic Jewish Traditions and Hebrews
— Eric F. Mason

The Interpretation of Scripture in the Epistle to the Hebrews
— David M. Moffitt

Hebrews, Rhetoric, and the Future of Humanity
— Craig R. Koester

Hebrews, Homiletics, and Liturgical Scripture Interpretation
— Gabriella Gelardini

Jesus the Broker in Hebrews: Insights from the Social Sciences
— Jerome H. Neyrey, S.J.

Hebrews as the Re-presentation of a Story: A Narrative Approach to Hebrews
— Kenneth Schenck

The Theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews
— Frank J. Matera

The Concept of Perfection in the Epistle to the Hebrews
— Kevin B. McCruden

The Jesus of Hebrews and the Christ of Chalcedon
— Rowan A. Greer

“A Sacrifice of Praise”: Does Hebrews Promote Supersessionism?
— Alan C. Mitchell

Hebrews in the Worship Life of the Church: A Historical Survey
— Mark A. Torgerson

Epilogue
— Harold W. Attridge

Hardback edition available from Brill Academic Publishers (www.brill.nl)

Demarest on Hebrews 7:3

The following article has been added:

Demarest, Bruce A. "Hebrews 7:3: A Crux Interpetum Historically Considered." Evangelical Quarterly 49.3 (1977): 141-162.

HT: Rob Bradshaw

Belief Commentary on Hebrews

Apparently, D. Stephen Long's commentary on Hebrews in the Belief series is now available.

From the website:

"The book of Hebrews is a fascinating extended sermon which has nurtured and challenged the church for centuries. It stands in tension with our sensibilities but provides guidance for the church's life and for individual Christians. In this theological commentary, D. Stephen Long explores this captivating book. He finds Hebrews extremely relevant for today since it integrates doctrine, ethics, and politics while helping faithful Christians find their ways through troubled times. It invites us into a robust world beyond the assumptions of today's scientific worldviews. Hebrews also helps us understand how to read Scripture after the triumph of Jesus Christ. Long's expert theological guidance helps us understand Hebrews and hear its message for our contemporary world.

The volumes in Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible from Westminster John Knox Press offer a fresh and invigorating approach to all the books of the Bible. Building on a wide range of sources from biblical studies, the history of theology, the church's liturgical and musical traditions, contemporary culture, and the Christian tradition, noted scholars focus less on traditional historical and literary angles in favor of a theologically focused commentary that considers the contemporary relevance of the texts. This series is an invaluable resource for those who want to probe beyond the backgrounds and words of biblical texts to their deep theological and ethical meanings for the church today."

Reformation Commentary on Scripture

I read on Charles Savelle's blog that InterVarsity Press has started a new commentary series, Reformation Commentary on Scripture.  For the interests of this blog, I note that Ron Rittgers is editing the volume on Hebrews and James. 

New Articles Added

The number of articles available online continues to grow.  I have recently added links to three new articles:

Campbell, Kenneth M. "Covenant or Testament?: Heb. 9:16, 17 Reconsidered." Evangelical Quarterly, 44.2 (1972): 107-11.

Ounsworth, Richard. "What Are They Saying about the Letter to the Hebrews?" Scripture Bulletin 39.2 (2009): 76-90. 

Worden, T. "Before Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews." Scripture 14 (1962): 48-57.

JSTOR Articles Now Available

JSTOR has now made articles dating before 1923 available for the public.  The following articles have been added to the Articles page:

Bruce, Alexander Balmain Bruce. "Four Types of Christian Thought III. The Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 7.2 (Feb 1896): 94-104.

Burbridge, A. T. "Faith as an Effort of the Soul (Heb. 11.1.)." Biblical World 18.3 (Sep. 1901): 185-93.

Burton, Ernest De Witt. "The Biblical Doctrine of Atonement: XI. The Teaching of the First Epistle of Peter and of the Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 32.5 (Nov. 1908): 336-48.

Cobet, C. G. "Pauli Apostoli locus in Epistola ad hebraeos XI. 4. tentatus." Mnemosyne 9 (1860): 308-14.

Crosby, Howard. "Heb. X. 26-27." Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 7.2 (Dec. 1887): 1-2.

Gardiner, Frederic. “The Language of the Epistle to the Hebrews as Bearing upon Its Authorship.” Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 7 (June 1887): 1–27.

Gardiner, Frederic. "On διαθήκη in Heb. ix. 16, 17." Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 5 (1885): 8-19.

Gilbert, George Holley. “The Greek Element in the Epistle to the Hebrews.” American Journal of Theology 14 (1910): 521–32.

Goodwin, D. R. “On the Use of και in Hebrews x. 38.” Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 5 (1885): 84–85.

Hayes, D. A. "Jesus the Perfecter of Faith (Heb. 12:2)." Biblical World 20.4 (Oct 1902): 278-87.

Hayes, D. A. "The Practical Outcome of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. 10:19-25)." Biblical World 24.6 (Dec 1904): 443-47.

Johnston, R. P. "A Message for Times of Transition: A Study in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World. 28.4 (Oct 1906): 251-60.

Lewis, Wm. M. "St. Paul's Defense before King Agrippa in Relation to the Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 13.4 (Apr. 1899): 244-48.

Marshall, J. T. "The Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 7.5 (May 1896): 359-65.

Penick, Daniel A. "Paul's Epistles Compared with One Another and with the Epistle to the Hebrews." American Journal of Philology 42.1 (1921): 58-72.

Schiele, Friedrich Michael. "Harnack's 'Probabilia' concerning the Address and the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews." American Journal of Theology 9.2 (Apr. 1905): 290-308.

Scott, E. F. “The Epistle to the Hebrews and Roman Christianity.” Harvard Theological Review 13 (1920): 205–19.

Williams, Clarence Russell. “A Word-Study of Hebrews 13.” Journal of Biblical Literature 30 (1911): 129–36.

Gert Steyn's New Book on Hebrews

It seems that Gert J. Steyn's book is also out: A Quest for the Assumed LXX Vorlage of the Explicit Quotations in Hebrews. Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments. (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht)

Synopsis: The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.